Just Thinking: When We Have Expectation Problem?

Just Thinking: when we have EXPECTATION problem?

Luke 24: 17-21 (NIV) – He asked them, “What are you discussing together as you walk along?”

They stood still, their faces downcast. One of them, named Cleopas, asked him, “Are you the only one visiting Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?”.

“What things?” he asked – “About Jesus of Nazareth,” they replied. “He was a prophet, powerful in word and deed before God and all the people.

The chief priests and our rulers handed him over to be sentenced to death, and they crucified him; but we had hoped that he was the one who was going to redeem Israel. And what is more, it is the third day since all this took place.

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The above conversation of Cleopas and another unnamed disciple is an indication of wrong expectation, not only from the general Israelite population but also from the who hung with Christ for three years.

Israel was been under the rulership of the Roman Empire, and paid heavy taxes and was subjected to heavy monitoring even though they had some level of freedom. The Torah had repeatedly promised that a Messiah (deliverer) would be sent. Many had showed up as the messiah and Rome had wiped them out easy (see Acts 5: 33-39).

So here comes Jesus, who was a little different, not only did He have wise words, He even have deeds (like forgiving sin, speaking to elements – winds etc., raising the dead, etc.). With powers like that, they thought (their EXPECTATION) was – “lets go Kick some Roman Ass” and et our freedom. Yet Jesus repeatedly told them how his kingdom was not of this World.

It is then no surprise that many of His disciples scattered after Jesus was crucified and were not too sure of His resurrection on the third day as He predicted. Some were disappointed that with all those powers Jesus had, the could have killed some Roman “ass” like Samson did the Philistines.

Jesus came as the blessed promise of Abraham, that through his seed the world would be blessed (it aint got nothing to do with money), Jesus became that blessing – through which humanity now have direct access to God’s throne room and the indwelling of God’s Spirit.

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Expectation is a problem is our world today. The problem could be NO expectation, UNREALISTIC expectation, or WRONG expectation. When we have NO expectation – goals are not set and nothing is achieved, when we have UNREALISTIC expectations – too much is expected, hence disappointment is inevitable, and when we have WRONG expectations like the followers of Jesus, we back at the wrong tree and eventually get disappointed.

To avoid NO, UNREALISTIC and WRONG expectations – one must learn to know the WHAT or WHO, the HOW, the WHERE and the WHY.

Who is JESUS? Why did He go to the Cross?, What does that mean to me?

Who is my spouse? What are the circumstances of his/her nurturing? What is his/her nature? Based on What I know, how do I measure my expectations?

May Heaven reveal more to us, as we seek Him through the written word and the Holy Spirit within us.